The Standard No. 1 boiler left Bridgnorth on April 9, with work on the overhaul expected to begin immediately. The target date for completion is the summer of next year.

The boiler belonging to No. 4930 Hagley Hall crosses the River Severn Bridge at Bridgnorth on April 9 as it begins its journey to Stockton. BOB SWEET

Having an outside contractor overhaul the boiler of a loco owned by the Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust may seem like an unusual move, especially with the railway having its own well-established boiler shop. However, the decision has been made in order speed up the overhaul owing to the boiler shop’s full work book.

Neil Taylor, the SVR’s engineering services manager, said, “This is a strategic decision to accelerate the rebuild of No. 4930, which will mean we can increase our fleet of Class 4 and Class 5 locomotives.”

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